Well, since taking on responsibility for data policy and governance earlier this year, it has been all-go on the data front! The department has announced the commencement of work on a National Data Strategy, and continued the work started at Government Digital Service on areas such as data ethics and open government… not to mention the development and governance of policy around how government collects, shares, uses and protects data. And this is before we even get to the creation of the Office for AI, and Consultation on the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation. It is all further evidence of how DCMS is leading government’s thinking on the use of data not only within the public sector, but in the wider economy as well.

A few of us from the data strategy, policy and governance team will be joining the Aberdeen ODC. We look forward to meeting you and talking to you. We are keen to hear:

What the open data community’s current priorities are;

Your thoughts on ensuring the data ecosystem is as open, and of highest quality, as possible;

The National Data Strategy has been asked to ‘unlock the power of data in the UK economy and government’ – what do you think this should mean?!

We look forward to refreshing old friendships and developing new ones… and maybe some visual thinking from the kind folks @drawnalism!